Impact of a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist-Led Food as Medicine Program in the Food Retail Setting: A Feasibility Study.

BACKGROUND

Food as medicine (FAM) interventions have been associated with improved health outcomes. However, there is limited FAM evidence in food retail settings.

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to evaluate the feasibility of a registered dietitian nutritionist-led FAM program that aims to detect changes in participants' nutrition problems and related nutrition and health outcomes, as documented by the Nutrition Care Process framework.

DESIGN

The study was a descriptive feasibility nutrition intervention cohort analysis.

PARTICIPANTS

SETTING

A convenience sample of online food shoppers were enrolled in collaboration with a food retail chain (n = 39 participants completed the intervention and were included in primary analyses).

INTERVENTION: Participants received nutrition care for 6 months either in person or via telehealth. The FAM intervention included tailored nutrition care that integrated software-generated meal plans and food shopping lists to support online food shopping.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Progress of nutrition problems and diet quality (assessed via the Picture your Plate survey) were measured. Measurements included changes in anthropometric and biochemical parameters, blood pressure, and quality of life (assessed via the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Health Related Quality of Life-14 survey).

STATISTICAL ANALYSES PERFORMED: Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson's χ2, and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used to detect differences.

RESULTS

The most prevalent nutrition problems demonstrated improvement rates as follows: excessive energy intake, 81% (n = 21 of 26); excessive carbohydrate intake, 88% (n = 7 of 8); and obesity, 100% (n = 5 of 5). Exposure to the FAM intervention improved dietary quality, quality of life, body weight, waist circumference, and systolic pressure.

CONCLUSIONS

FAM interventions can be carried out by in-store registered dietitian nutritionists in the supermarket setting. This feasibility study highlighted the need and opportunity for larger studies in which registered dietitian nutritionist-led FAM interventions, in collaboration with food retailers, may improve people's nutrition and health.